In 1982 Reagan got rolled on a $3 in spending cuts to $1 in tax increases. The spending cuts never were to materialize. Again no spending cuts in 1986. Then Bush 41 got rolled - no spending cuts materialized. Somehow we are to believe that the draconian cuts will materialize and not just the defense ones.

I say, if the cuts are REAL then lets go over the cliff to prove it.

Problem is they are taking all of us with them!!!

Whatever happens in this lame duck the Repubs must make it permanent. Never again should we hand such a huge cudgel to our opponents as the automatically expiring Bush tax rates became. For over a decade we have been fighting against the "Bush tax cuts for the rich" as every dem since Gore has droned on and on about how to spend all that revenue Bush bestowed on the millionaires and billionaires.

Why is there a fiscal cliff at all? For a decade the media has reported that Bush´s tax cuts only helped the wealthy, not the middle class. So wouldn´t allowing them to "expire" simply accomplish what Obama promised?

The absolute worst outcome, and one the RHINOS will probably walk right into would be anothe extension, expiring right about election time in 2014 so the left can demagogue this issue one more time.

Face it the left never ever wants the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy to expire, it is their strongest class warfare campaign issue. An automatic tax hike on everyone that can be portrayed as an evil republican plot to protect the uber rich.

Whatever happens, whatever the cost, kill the sunset clause once and for all.

Always wondered where this "cliff" came from? Found out that the "cliff" refers to Bush tax cuts expiring AND the "sequestrations" from that Joint Select Committee of Congrees in 2011. The "going over the cliff" will hurt the middle class and working poor, a majority (when combining the 2 classes) who elected the Won. Maybe it´s time to call the bluff and go over the cliff to see what really will happen with the spending cuts?

Too bad, that Joint Select Committee did not add the requirement for Obummer to send up a budget.

Great article. I totally agree. In the end going off the cliff and letting ALL the Bush Tax Cuts expire strengthens the pubblies hand. Shared sacrifice is vital right now.

Who do the rich Democrats in Hollywood, Wall Street and the multi-million black sports figures give their money to? Not the Republicans. Wake up Republicans, you have been hit over your head for years for all the wrong reasons. Let the taxes go up and you might have a chanch to win the next election.

Yes, if the Bush tax cuts are to expire, let them ALL expire, not just the ones for the wealthy. Let´s call their bluff.

Do it!

you need to know this...hollywood actors and actresses and the wonderful sports figures will not have their taxes increased.. they are "independant contractors" so they dont pay the in crease in taxes...why do you think they are all for the tax increase...because it does not affect them...i.e. Babs Striseand..Whoppied Goldberg...Barbar Walters..Shawn Penn..they dont pay the increase...

I´m all for spending cuts, too. The problem is that Defense is going to bear the brunt of them. However, I found myself commenting during several conversations this weekend that "we apparently haven´t hit bottom yet." Obama wanted sequestration so let´s give it to him - it will be last we hear about his sidekick Shecky running in ´16.

Remember "targeted tax cuts?" I think it´s time we had "targeted tax increases!" Pass a new bill that sets a 99% rate on all movie stars and just for grins make it retroactive to 2008, then, after we see how much revenue that brings in we can talk about other revenue measures!

"Americans had a choice this November, and they voted for bigger government. Rather (than) shielding voters from the consequences of their decisions, let them pay for it."

Exactly right.

AMEN!! Yes it will hurt. But it will hurt the very dumbasses who elected this clowncar for a second round the MOST. Maybe then they´ll learn a little something about economics. DO IT REPUBS--for once, please GROW A PAIR and shove this right down their throats. Ironically, it´s the only hope we have of saving this country...

Alex, I´ll take "Over the Cliff" for a thousand.

Exactly! I have been saying this very thing for awhile now!

Wilberforce, in the Parliament of old, argued against slavery in the British realm. It took him 20 years to make his point, which means he had to survive a number of election challenges. Oh, to have statesmen that didn´t fold like a rookie at a poker table full of card sharps. Stay with principle...even if you LOSE!

I really don´t know what the best answer is now as the folks in Congress clobberjaw this thing to death.

WHAT I DO KNOW is this:

Whatever them criminals in Congress come up with, it´ll be wrong. It´s hard to believe they got themselves a string of doin´ the exact wrong thing on every decision goin´ back twelve years now.

Go for it! Time for America to see what they voted for!

Go for it. The people demand it. That´s what they voted for so GIVE IT to them.

Lets have Republican electors boycott the electoral college too. If enough do it there won´t be a quorum to elect Soetoro again.

I agree with all of these comments but you all need to contact your congressman and senators and state your opinion. They don´t read these posts. A snailmail is the best way to do this.

This country died on 11-6-2012.

Now we are just sitting around waiting for the corpse to implode under it own rotting weight of ´´cool free stuff´´.

Let it go over the cliff. The Demon-RATS own this one, and it´s inevitable anyway...

I´m happy to see this column and Marc Thiessen´s column from earlier this week get support from my fellow conservatives.

Republicans have protected the people who voted for bigger government for too long. All the spending has just been passed on to future generations. Let´s see what happens when their taxes go up too and they have to pay for their choices.